29 December 2011
24 December 2011
Merry Christmas!
Fear not: for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people.
For unto you
is born this day in the city
of David a Savior,
which is Christ the Lord.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to all of our generous supporters. May you find joy this holiday season knowing you have uplifted our Wounded Warriors through the priceless gift of love.
23 December 2011
Gold Star Christmas
To our Gold Star families, with love.
I still hear the songs
I still see the lights
I still feel your love
on cold wintery nights
I still share your hopes
and all of your cares
I'll even remind you
to please say your prayers
I just want to tell you
you still make me proud
You stand head and shoulders
above all the crowd
Keep trying each moment
to stay in His grace
I came here before you
to help set your place
You don't have to be
perfect all of the time
He forgives you the slip
If you continue the climb
To my family and friends
please be thankful today
I'm still close beside you
In a new special place
I love you all dearly
now don't shed a tear
Cause I'm spending my
Christmas with Jesus this year.
--John Wm. Mooney, Jr
21 December 2011
Christmas DUSTOFF
SFC Mark Allen homecoming scheduled for Friday - Updated
If you are in the Loganville, GA area please turn out to welcome Mark and Shannon back home!
Wounded Hero Returns to His Loganville Home Friday
December 20, 2011
Sgt. 1st Class Mark Allen will be making his way through Grayson and Loganville at about 2 p.m. Friday to be home in time for Christmas.
Shannon Allen, wife of wounded soldier Sgt. 1st Class Mark Allen, said her husband will be making his way up Highway 78, through Grayson and Loganville, at about 2 p.m. Friday.
Allen received critical head injuries in 2009 when he was hit by sniper fire furing a furious firefight in Afghanistan. After more than two years in the V.A. hospital in Tampa, Fla. Allen will be returning home to Loganville in time for Christmas.
Residents are encouraged to turn out and line the streets in support of the returning hero.
Shannon Allen said they will not be driving all the way up Highway 78, instead just passing through Grayson and Loganville before turning off at the Bay Creek Church Road exit. Information will be updated when it becomes available.
Update Dec 23, final arrangements:
Arrangements Finalized for Wounded Soldier's Homecoming
The route and time has been finalized for Sgt. 1st Class Mark Allen's Homecoming Dec. 23.
By Sharon Swanepoel
December 22, 2011
Final arrangements have been made for the trip that will bring Sgt. 1st Class Mark Allen, a wounded soldier from Loganville, home in time for Christmas.
According to his wife, Shannon Allen, they will be meeting up with Snellville authorities at the First Baptist Church in Snellville at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 23. From there the procession will continue up Highway 78 until they turn off at Bay Creek Church Road in Loganville. Anyone who wishes to show appreciation for Allen's service and sacrifice is encouraged to line Highway 78 during that time.
Allen received critical head injuries in 2009 when he was hit by sniper fire furing a furious firefight in Afghanistan. After more than two years in the V.A. hospital in Tampa, Fla. Allen will be returning home to Loganville in time for Christmas.
Update, Dec 24:
Grab a tissue and watch the huge turnout for Mark yesterday from the residents of Snellville, Loganville and Walton and Gwinnett counties, as well as Patriot Guard and American Legion Riders. Thank you to everyone who honored Mark.
WELCOME HOME!!!
Other stories about Mark:
Prayer request
Gold Star Father Robert Stokely interviewed about SFC Mark Allen fundraiser
Wounded Warrior's Spouse: "My husband is GI Joe in a National Guard uniform"
Two Newnan Guardsmen among three wounded in Afghanistan
Wounded soldiers arrive in U.S.
Injured soldiers helped by Soldiers' Angels
How Could I Know?
20 December 2011
Happy Hanukkah!
The first night of Hanukkah begins today at sundown. As you celebrate the Festival of Lights may your home be bright with happiness and love.
We light these lights for the miracles and the wonders, for the redemption and the battles that you made for our forefathers, in those days at this season, through your holy priests. During all eight days of Hanukkah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them except for to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.
19 December 2011
18 December 2011
Daybreak at Khabari Crossing
The last U.S. soldiers rolled out of Iraq across the border at Khabari Crossing into Kuwait at daybreak Sunday.
“It’s difficult, because a declaration of it being over is different than a declaration of victory. I personally believe we were victorious in many ways, and absolutely left that place better than when we found it.
“One of the biggest things I saw when I was there, was people would wait in line, through several security check points, to vote. They would literally risk their lives. To me, if that continues to stick and there is that kind of democracy in the heart of the Middle East, that is also a huge victory.”
- Major Dan Kolenda, U.S. Army Reserve and a military lawyer, who worked on the “Rule of Law” section with the Multinational Corps in Iraq. Quote from this story.
THANK YOU to the men and women of the U.S. Military for your extraordinary sacrifices over the past 8 years in Iraq. You have freed an entire nation of people from a brutal dictator and given them a chance at freedom and self-determination. The rest is up to them. God bless our troops, their families, and God bless America.
16 December 2011
A Soldier's Dream
See how one Soldier's dream changed the Iraq war. Please take a moment to learn about Travis Patriquin... and to remember this Hero.
See also "Let history mention a hero... " at the Mudville Gazette.
The casing of the colors in Iraq
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